John Ydstiehttp://wuis.org
enHealth Insurer Anthem To Buy Rival Cigna For Nearly $50 Billionhttp://wuis.org/post/health-insurer-anthem-buy-rival-cigna-nearly-50-billion
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Health+Insurer+Anthem+To+Buy+Rival+Cigna+For+Nearly+%2450+Billion&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAyNDY5ODMwMDEyMjg3NjMzMTE1ZjE2MA001)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: <p>We're going to examine now what another giant merger in the health care industry could mean for consumers. Anthem, the nation's second-largest health insurer, announced it will buy Cigna, another top-five insurer, for close to $50 billion.Fri, 24 Jul 2015 21:09:00 +0000John Ydstie54147 at http://wuis.org5 Years Later, Legacy Of Financial Overhaul Still Being Weighedhttp://wuis.org/post/five-years-later-legacy-financial-overhaul-still-being-weighed
Five years ago Tuesday, President Obama signed into law the massive overhaul of U.S. financial regulations called Dodd-Frank. But there's still a battle over whether the law has helped stabilize the financial system or whether it has harmed the economy and should be rolled back.<p>Congress designed Dodd-Frank to fix excesses in financial markets and mortgage lending — excesses that triggered the financial crisis and forced massive bailouts of Wall Street firms.<p>After five years, regulators have completed just two-thirds of the rules that Dodd-Frank mandated.Tue, 21 Jul 2015 22:23:00 +0000John Ydstie53935 at http://wuis.org5 Years Later, Legacy Of Financial Overhaul Still Being WeighedWhat Lifting Iran's Sanctions Means For U.S. Businesseshttp://wuis.org/post/what-lifting-irans-sanctions-means-us-businesses
Since news of <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/14/422920192/6-things-you-should-know-about-the-iran-nuclear-deal">the Iran nuclear deal</a> broke, lots of business clients have been calling up Washington lawyer William McGlone, a specialist in trade law and economic sanctions. He says he's been forced to give them a bit of a cold shower.<p>"There's this expectation, or assumption, in the business community that the sanctions are being lifted," he says, "when, in fact, the U.S. legal framework is scheduled to remain in place."<p>Only a small fraction of U.S.Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:36:00 +0000John Ydstie53676 at http://wuis.orgWhat Lifting Iran's Sanctions Means For U.S. BusinessesPressure To Act Unethically Looms Over Wall Street, Survey Findshttp://wuis.org/post/pressure-act-unethically-looms-over-wall-street-survey-finds
A new survey of financial professionals tends to confirm the widely held belief that the financial industry has an ethics problem.<p>Among the more than 1,200 financial professionals in the U.S.Tue, 19 May 2015 22:47:00 +0000John Ydstie50047 at http://wuis.orgYou've Saved Money At The Pump. Why Aren't You Spending It?http://wuis.org/post/youve-saved-money-pump-why-arent-you-spending-it
Even though it's crept up in the past couple of months, the price of a gallon of gasoline is still about $1 less than it was a year ago. That's saving drivers $15 to $20 every time they fill up.<p>Economists were quite convinced late last year that would boost growth because consumers would go out and spend that extra money.Tue, 12 May 2015 21:38:00 +0000John Ydstie49601 at http://wuis.orgYou've Saved Money At The Pump. Why Aren't You Spending It?Health Insurer Aetna Raises Wages For Lowest-Paid Workers To $16 An Hourhttp://wuis.org/post/health-insurer-aetna-raises-wages-lowest-paid-workers-16-hour
Prospects for low-wage workers at some large companies have improved recently as both <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/04/03/397316872/while-pay-holds-steady-for-most-low-wage-workers-get-a-boost" target="_blank">Walmart and McDonald's</a> announced pay hikes, but one of the most significant announcements came at Aetna.<p>The large insurance company <a href="https://news.aetna.com/news-releases/fact-sheet-aetna-announces-changes-will-improve-wages-medical-benefits-thousands-employees/" target="_blank">raised the pay</a> of its low-wage workers to $16 an hour this month.Fri, 01 May 2015 00:19:00 +0000John Ydstie48873 at http://wuis.orgHealth Insurer Aetna Raises Wages For Lowest-Paid Workers To $16 An HourWhen Rates Turn Negative, Banks Pay Customers To Borrowhttp://wuis.org/post/when-rates-turn-negative-banks-pay-customers-borrow
So what if the bank paid you to take out a loan?Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:26:00 +0000John Ydstie47614 at http://wuis.orgWhen Rates Turn Negative, Banks Pay Customers To BorrowMany Obamacare Policyholders Face Tax Surprises This Yearhttp://wuis.org/post/many-obamacare-policyholders-face-tax-surprises-year
The old saying goes, "Nothing is certain except death and taxes." But the Affordable Care Act has added a new wrinkle.<p>For many policyholders, the ACA has introduced <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/25/395096607/affordable-care-act-makes-this-tax-season-painful-for-many">a good deal of uncertainty</a> about their tax bills.Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:47:00 +0000John Ydstie47102 at http://wuis.orgMany Obamacare Policyholders Face Tax Surprises This YearMarch Employment Report Shows Growth — But Disappointing Numbershttp://wuis.org/post/march-employment-report-expected-show-continued-job-growth
<em>Editor's note: This story was updated following the 8:30 a.m. ET release of the employment report.</em><p>The pulse of the U.S. job market was revealed Friday morning, when the government released employment data for March. Employers added a disappointing total: just 126,000 jobs.<p>Prior to March, it had been quite a run for the U.S. job market. The economy had added more than 200,000 jobs every month, maintaining a level of job creation that hasn't been seen since a 13-month run back in 1994-95.<p>Economists had predicted that the economy would add 245,000 jobs in March.Fri, 03 Apr 2015 07:44:00 +0000John Ydstie46823 at http://wuis.orgA Ruling Against Obamacare Would Have Broad Implicationshttp://wuis.org/post/ruling-against-obamacare-would-have-broad-implications
The Supreme Court <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/04/390711662/few-clues-on-health-laws-future-emerge-in-supreme-court-arguments">heard arguments</a> Wednesday in a case that could end Obamacare subsidies for policyholders in a majority of states, including Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio.Wed, 04 Mar 2015 22:06:00 +0000John Ydstie44599 at http://wuis.orgA Ruling Against Obamacare Would Have Broad ImplicationsAs Oil Prices Tank, Firms Large And Small Feel The Painhttp://wuis.org/post/oil-prices-tank-firms-large-and-small-feel-pain
It's a painful time to be in the oil business. With the price of crude oil about half what it was six months ago, companies large and small are being pressured to cut costs.<p>On the front lines are oil services companies that do everything from drilling to providing electrical power at well sites.Thu, 19 Feb 2015 23:48:00 +0000John Ydstie43656 at http://wuis.orgAs Oil Prices Tank, Firms Large And Small Feel The PainLow Oil Prices Great For Consumers, Less So For Investorshttp://wuis.org/post/low-oil-prices-great-consumers-less-so-investors
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Low+Oil+Prices+Great+For+Consumers%2C+Less+So+For+Investors&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxMTMyMDY2MDEyNDUxNzAyNjlmODI5NQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: <p>Oil prices are down by about 50 percent. Good for consumers at the pump, not so good if you're investing millions of dollars to drill wells. In Houston, bankers, oil producers, drilling companies - more than a thousand companies in all - are gathered to talk business.Thu, 12 Feb 2015 21:39:00 +0000John Ydstie42989 at http://wuis.orgOil Price Dip, Global Slowdown Create Crosscurrents For U.S.http://wuis.org/post/oil-price-dip-global-slowdown-create-crosscurrents-us
Continued job growth has boosted prospects for the U.S. economy, but it continues to face some tricky crosswinds. The big drop in oil prices and a stronger dollar both help the economy and hurt it. Add to that the recent slowdown in global growth.<p>Lots of economists have suggested the big drop in oil prices is a gift to consumers that will propel the economy. David Kotok of Cumberland Advisors is one of them. He argues that cheaper oil will ultimately be a positive.<p>"The U.S.Mon, 09 Feb 2015 08:34:00 +0000John Ydstie42634 at http://wuis.orgOil Price Dip, Global Slowdown Create Crosscurrents For U.S.U.S. Jobs Picture Finally Getting Back To Normalhttp://wuis.org/post/us-jobs-picture-finally-getting-back-normal
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=U.S.+Jobs+Picture+Finally+Getting+Back+To+Normal&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA1MzU5NTYzMDEyNzY2MjYxMzZjODE4NQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>Some good economic news today - there is more evidence that the U.S. job market is finally getting back on track more than five years after the great recession. The government's monthly jobs report shows an increase of more than a million jobs over the past three months.Fri, 06 Feb 2015 22:28:00 +0000John Ydstie42530 at http://wuis.orgOil Industry Sees Layoffs, Even As Jobs Numbers Rise Elsewherehttp://wuis.org/post/oil-industry-sees-layoffs-even-jobs-numbers-rise-elsewhere
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Oil+Industry+Sees+Layoffs%2C+Even+As+Jobs+Numbers+Rise+Elsewhere&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAyMjQ1NTA4MDEyMjU5MTk3OTdlZmMzMQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And we talked on this program about one motive President Putin might have for keeping things stirred up in Ukraine - to distract his country's attention from a deteriorating economy caused partly by plunging oil prices.Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:07:00 +0000John Ydstie42485 at http://wuis.orgObama's Arctic Refuge Drill Ban Won't Change Much, For Nowhttp://wuis.org/post/obamas-arctic-refuge-drill-ban-wont-change-much-now
President Obama says he will ask Congress to give <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/01/25/379795695/obama-proposes-new-protections-for-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge">wilderness status</a> to protect more than 12 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The president announced his intention Sunday in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hey_WIAFVA&feature=youtu.be">video</a>, describing the area as a pristine habitat with abundant wildlife.<p>"It's very fragile," he said.Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:52:00 +0000John Ydstie41701 at http://wuis.orgObama's Arctic Refuge Drill Ban Won't Change Much, For NowEuropean Central Bank Launches Stimulus Planhttp://wuis.org/post/european-central-bank-launches-stimulus-plan
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=European+Central+Bank+Launches+Stimulus+Plan&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAwOTkwMDAxMDEyOTc4NzE2OTUxZTE0NA001)"/></div><p>Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:06:00 +0000John Ydstie41453 at http://wuis.orgMiddle Class Economics Dominate Obama's State Of The Unionhttp://wuis.org/post/middle-class-economics-dominate-obamas-state-union
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Middle+Class+Economics+Dominate+Obama%27s+State+Of+The+Union&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5Njc0ODg4MDEzNDA5MTE5NDRhNDMzYw004)"/></div><p>Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:11:00 +0000John Ydstie41396 at http://wuis.orgDollar's Rise Is Good News For The U.S., For Nowhttp://wuis.org/post/dollars-rise-good-news-us-now
If you've traveled outside the U.S. recently, or sent your U.S.-made products abroad, you've probably noticed that the dollar is getting stronger. The stronger dollar is the sign of a healthier U.S. economy, but its strength has the potential to erode growth.<p>There are a number of factors behind the dollar's rise, says economist Jens Nordvig, a currency expert at Nomura Securities. The main one is the health of the U.S. economy.<p>"When you compare the U.S. economy to the rest of the world, you really have a situation where there's a pretty dramatic outperformance of U.S.Wed, 14 Jan 2015 23:48:00 +0000John Ydstie40792 at http://wuis.orgDollar's Rise Is Good News For The U.S., For NowEconomy Weathers A Bad Winter And Other Storms To Finish 2014 Stronghttp://wuis.org/post/economy-weathers-bad-winter-and-other-storms-finish-2014-strong
The economy was floored by the polar vortex early on in 2014 — plus, businesses and consumers were still a little dazed by a government shutdown and debt ceiling fight late in 2013.<p>Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, says it all produced an anxious start to the year. "Yeah, a lot of worry, particularly because we had misstepped a few other times during the recovery," he says. "We had these false dawns when we really thought the economy was going to kick into gear and then we kind of fell back into the morass."<p>But the economy rebounded.Thu, 25 Dec 2014 21:29:00 +0000John Ydstie39608 at http://wuis.orgEconomy Weathers A Bad Winter And Other Storms To Finish 2014 StrongFed: Interest Rates Could Rise As Early As May 2015http://wuis.org/post/fed-indicates-indicates-interest-rates-will-stay-low
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Fed%3A+Interest+Rates+Could+Rise+As+Early+As+May+2015&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA4MDc0NDkyMDEzMTQ4ODU0MTE0OGNiNg004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>The Federal Reserve appears to be on track to raise its benchmark interest rate next year.Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:46:00 +0000John Ydstie39138 at http://wuis.orgHoliday Shoppers Are Filling Their Carts, Onlinehttp://wuis.org/post/holiday-shoppers-are-filling-their-carts-online
This weekend, Will Falls decided to skip the local mall near Raleigh, N.C., and shop online instead.<p>"No standing in line, no finding a parking spot," he says.Tue, 02 Dec 2014 23:43:00 +0000John Ydstie38162 at http://wuis.orgHoliday Shoppers Are Filling Their Carts, OnlineObamacare 'Glitch' Puts Subsidies Out Of Reach For Many Familieshttp://wuis.org/post/obamacare-glitch-puts-subsidies-out-reach-many-families
Don Benfield of Taylorsville, N.C., makes $11 an hour working for a mobile-home parts business, selling things like replacement doors and windows.<p>Benfield, 51, doesn't have health insurance.<p>"I haven't had health care insurance in years, simply because I haven't been able to afford it, especially with food prices, how they went up," he explains.<p>Benfield's employer does offer health insurance coverage, even though, with fewer than 50 employees, the business is not required to.<p>"The insurance here through work is $43 a week, which with my rent and other payments and everything, we haveTue, 02 Dec 2014 08:54:00 +0000John Ydstie38097 at http://wuis.orgObamacare 'Glitch' Puts Subsidies Out Of Reach For Many FamiliesHealthCare.gov Head Says Site Is Tested And 'Ready To Go'http://wuis.org/post/healthcaregov-head-says-site-tested-and-ready-go
It's being <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/11/07/362315906/in-surprise-move-supreme-court-takes-on-fate-of-obamacare-again">challenged in the Supreme Court</a>. Members of the new Republican Congress want to repeal it. But Obamacare will get a second chance on Saturday, when enrollment opens again in the government-sponsored health exchanges.<p>The Obama administration is expecting over 3 million new enrollees and almost 6 million return customers.Fri, 14 Nov 2014 22:51:00 +0000John Ydstie37064 at http://wuis.orgHealthCare.gov Head Says Site Is Tested And 'Ready To Go'Banking Giants Settle Currency Manipulation Chargeshttp://wuis.org/post/banking-giants-settle-currency-manipulation-charges
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Banking+Giants+Settle+Currency+Manipulation+Charges&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA1MzU5NTYzMDEyNzY2MjYxMzZjODE4NQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: <p>Six big banks will pay more than $4 billion to U.S. and European regulators for more bad behavior, this time rigging foreign currency markets. Among the charges?Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:42:00 +0000John Ydstie36859 at http://wuis.orgIt's Still Too Early For Tanking Oil Prices To Curb U.S. Drillinghttp://wuis.org/post/its-still-too-early-tanking-oil-prices-curb-us-drilling
Oil prices fell again Tuesday, to just below $76 a barrel before recovering slightly — one day after Saudi Arabia cut prices for the crude it sells in the U.S. market.<p>During most of the last quarter-century, that would have been viewed as a very positive development for the U.S. economy. But oil production here has increased so quickly in the past several years, the continuing price drops pose a potential threat to U.S.Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:32:00 +0000John Ydstie36336 at http://wuis.orgIt's Still Too Early For Tanking Oil Prices To Curb U.S. DrillingObamacare's First Year: How'd It Go?http://wuis.org/post/obamacares-first-year-howd-it-go
Exactly one year ago, the Obamacare insurance exchanges stumbled into existence. Consumers struggled to sign up for its online marketplace — and the Obama administration was pummeled.Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:14:00 +0000John Ydstie34274 at http://wuis.orgObamacare's First Year: How'd It Go?Big Sponsors May Find It Hard To Break Up With The NFLhttp://wuis.org/post/nfls-domestic-abuse-scandal-upsets-big-sponsors
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTwV3Lhz224</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZ7dTbJHGY</p>Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:59:00 +0000John Ydstie33825 at http://wuis.orgBig Sponsors May Find It Hard To Break Up With The NFLWith Turmoil Roiling Abroad, Why Aren't Oil Prices Bubbling Up? http://wuis.org/post/turmoil-roiling-abroad-why-arent-oil-prices-bubbling
The price of oil has been falling — a drop that you may already have noticed at the pump. Gasoline prices have dropped noticeably since June, and oil is now well below $100 a barrel.<p>That decline has happened even as conflicts have flared in or near oil-producing regions. Normally, oil prices are expected to spike higher amid turmoil — so why have they been trending lower?<p>The global price <em>did</em> rise to just under $112 a barrel in June, when ISIS first swept into northern Iraq. But the price of crude has trended down since then — despite the U.S.Mon, 15 Sep 2014 21:11:00 +0000John Ydstie33346 at http://wuis.orgWith Turmoil Roiling Abroad, Why Aren't Oil Prices Bubbling Up? Employer-Sponsored Health Costs Rose Modestly In 2014http://wuis.org/post/employer-sponsored-health-costs-rose-modestly-2014
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Employer-Sponsored+Health+Costs+Rose+Modestly+In+2014&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAyNDY5ODMwMDEyMjg3NjMzMTE1ZjE2MA001)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>Health care costs have been rising, but not rising as quickly as they used to.Thu, 11 Sep 2014 08:55:00 +0000John Ydstie33040 at http://wuis.org